Since the inaugural encounter in 1932 the United States has won 28 of the 36 Curtis Cups contested, including the past seven.

Matthews, who played in four prior Curtis Cup matches, believes the key to winning back the trophy is getting off to a good start.

"When you're only playing 18 holes you have to get off to a quick start and my team needs to be aware the first three to four holes are very crucial to the whole match," she said. "That's why I've had the girls play those holes up-and-down goodness knows how many times this week. It's the same with the last two to three holes as I've also had them play those last few holes as they are very strong closing holes."

In a surprise, Charley Hull of England, the world's leading women's amateur, was left out of the opening round of matches. The 16-year-old is the youngest of all 16 women competing and, at No. 4 in the world, she is also the highest ranked.

"There's no particular reason (for Hull's omission) as everyone is playing particular well," Matthews said. "I need fresh legs every round, so the fact that Charley is not playing in the morning means absolute nothing."

There was controversy earlier this year when Hull was dumped from the British and Irish team training squad after accepting an invitation to compete in the Kraft Nabisco Championship, the first women's major championship of 2012. But the decision was roundly criticized and after Hull played in California, she was admitted back into the squad.

In the opening foursomes: American pair Austin Ernst and Brooke Pancake take on Kelly Tidy and Amy Boulden, U.S. duo Amy Anderson and Tiffany Lua meet Holly Clyburn and Bronte Law, and teammates Lindy Duncan and Lisa McCloskey play GBI's Leona Maguire and Stephanie Meadow.

U.S. Captain Patricia Cornett revealed her team has been inundated with messages of support, including one from former President George H.W. Bush.

However Cornett, who played in the 1978 winning team and also the 1988 losing side, was not as outspoken as her rival GB&I team leader.

"The matches have always been quite competitive and yes, the Americans have tended to win in the recent past but there was a time back, and I was a member of that team in 1988, when GB&I were winning," said Cornett.

"Whenever the matches are over here advantage-wise GB&I are favorites and this year GB&I has a terrific team, so I am looking forward to very competitive matches."

Leading the Americans is Lindy Duncan of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The 21-year old No. 8-ranked player made the halfway cut in last year's U.S. Women's Open.

But of the U.S. side just one, 21-year old Brooke Pancake of Chattanooga, Tenn., is set to turn professional immediately after Sunday's final round of matches.

"I've been asked a lot if I am going to wait to play in a number of other big amateur events later this year before I turn pro but I could not think of a better way to end my amateur career than with the Curtis Cup and here in Scotland, and the home of golf," said Pancake, who also led the University of Alabama to the women's NCAA championship last month.

"I have been extremely blessed to have some of the doors open for me being an amateur and hopefully many more will open for me after Sunday as a professional."